Switch-operating mechanism



June 24, 1924. 1,499,251

' W. H. PICKEL SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 17 I923 Patented June 24, 1924.

v UNITEDYSYTATES PATENT;"QF' C I wALrEa H. PICKELQQF BIcKivELL, INDIANA.

sw eeabsmame.MEeHAmsM. J I I;

' Application tiled December 17, 1923. s en,1w'.' e's 1,2 9.

To all whom it may concern:

Be 1t known thatl, 'VVALTER PICKEL,

a citizen of the United States,residi'ng at Bic-knell, in the county of Knoxand State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Operating s Mechanisms; and'I do declare'the following to be a full, clear, and exact 'descriptionf of the l11VQ-11tlOI1,SUCh21SWill enablesotliers skilled in-the 'artto'whieh iii-appertains to make and use the same.

Fly invention relatest'o improvements in operating mechanisms for railwayswltches,

the device being 'primarilydesignedfor use inconnection with n1ine"'ra1lways. The

switches commonly used onfrailways o f this character, when set to send'amar traveling in on direction either along themaln l ne,

or onto the switch, will not permit cars showing the switch open, as in Fig. 1.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but lllustrating the relation of parts when the switch is closed by a car on the main track, traveling 1n the directlon of thearrow A- of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a detail vertical section showing the switch-throwing mechanism in the opposite position from that disclosed in Fig. 2.

In the drawing above briefly described, the numerals 1 designate the usual switch tongues which are connected by a bridle bar 2. This bridle bar has its outer end connected by a rod or link 3, with the lower end of a vertically swinging lever 4, the central portion of this lever being formed with a fulcrum-receiving opening 5 whose upper edge is shaped to provide a pair of laterally spaced fulcrum seats 6. A fulcrum bolt or the like 7 passes through'the opening 5 and is receivable in either of the seats 6. This fulcrum is here shown, supported by a pair of parallel plates 8 which rise frorn a base plate 9 secured upon suitable ties or the" like, said plate-Qhaving' a slot 10 through which the lever 1" passes. a I

etblQ formed in-its lower end, and the up per end of the lever '4 isloosely pivoted in said socket,las indicated at "13, so that the'coupling' member may -m'ove to either side of the. center of the lever 4, aswill be obvious comparing Figs,- Sand 4.

The upper end of the coupling member 11 is formed-with a similarflared socket 14 in which the lower end of an arm 15 is loosely pivoted as indicatedat:'16, the'outer end of"- said arm having arr adjustable weight 17;

The. construction above described, offsets I the. weight 17 to a great extent from the fulcrum 7, regardlessi of the direction in whichthe arm 15 is thrown, to-open or;

close the switch. ZThus, even; though one of the tongues 1 may be moved by a car into contact with the rail from which it was previously spaced, the movement of parts will not be sufficient to reverse the position of the switch-throwing mechanism. Consequently, as soon as the carpasses, the switch will be again returned to its initial position. For instance, if the switch is open as shown in Fig. 1, the. operating mechanism stands as shown in Fig. 2. If a car now travels in the direction of the arrow A* (Fig. 1) and forces the tongues 1 to the right, the operating mechanism assumes the position disclosed in Fig. 8 and as soon as the car passes, all parts return to their initial positions, under the influence of the weight 17.

As excellent results may be obtained from the details disclosed, these details are preferably followed, but within the scope, of the inventionas claimed, numerous minor changes may be made.

I claim:

1. A switch operating mechanism comprising a lever whose lower end is adapted for connection to the outer end of a bridle bar, means for fulcruming said lever between its ends for movement to oppositely inclined positions, a coupling member pivotally connected atitslower portion to-the upper end of said lever and movable to op posits sides of the central line of said lever, a'vertically swinging weightcarrying arm pivotally connected with the upper portion of said coupling member and movable to op for connection to the outer end of a bridle bar, the intermediate portion of said lever posite sides or the central line of; said coupling member, and means for limiting the movement of said arm with respect to said coupling member and of the latter With'respect to said lever.

2. A switch operating mechanism comprising a lever whose lower end is adapted for connection to the outer end of a bridlebar, means for :tulcruming said lever between its ends for movement to oppositely inclined-positions, a coupling member hav ing a flared socketin its lower end in which the upper-end of said lever is looselypivoted to permit swinging of. said-coupling member to opposite sides of said lever, the

upperend "of said coupling member also having a flared socket, and a weight-carry ing arm loosely pivoted in the'upper socket for movement to either side of said coupling member. 1

3. A switch operating mechanism com-; prising a lever whose lower end is adapted having a fulcrum-receiving opening whose upper edge wall 1s formed with laterally spaced fulcrum seats, a statronarily supported fulcrumpassing through said opening and receivable in either'ot said seats according to: the direction 1n which said: lever for connection to the outer end of abridle bar, the intermediate portion of said lever having a fulcrum-receiving opening whose upper edge wall is formed with laterally spaced fulcrum seats, a stationarily' supported fulcrum passing through'said opening and receivable ineither of said seats according to the direction in which said lever is swung, a coupling member having a flared socket in its lower end in which the upper end of said lever is loosely pivoted to permitswinging of said coupling member to opposite sides of said lever, the upper end of said. I

coupling member also having a flared socket, and a Weight-carrying arm loosely pivoted in the upper socket for movement to either side of said coupling member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto. at

fixed my signature. V

WALTER H. ProKEL. 

